Why this is a Masterpiece

The sculpture represents the image of Buddha Amitayus (Amitabha) which is the main Bodhisattva form in Lotus pose. The Bodhisattva is decorated with jewelry: a crown band, earrings, a necklace and bracelets. The nectar vase in the hands is lost. This superb sculpture is an example of a fascinating phenomenon in Tibetan art. It is modeled according to the aesthetic ideas of earlier times.

History of the Object

The Celestial Buddha is described in the scriptures of the Mahayana school of Buddhism. Amitabha is Buddha in the Pure Land, a branch of Buddhism practiced in Tibet. According to these scriptures, Amitabha possesses infinite merits resulting from good deeds over countless past lives as a Bodhisattva.